Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Charlotte Hornets (16-31) and Washington Wizards (15-31) square off at Capital One Arena at 7 p.m. ET Thursday. We analyze the Hornets-Wizards odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.


Hornets at Wizards: Key injuries

Wizards

  • PF Rui Hachimura (groin) out
  • SG Jordan McRae (ankle) out
  • SG Garrison Mathews (ankle) out
  • C Moritz Wagner (ankle) out
  • PG John Wall (Achilles) out

Hornets at Wizards: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Wizards 120, Hornets 112

Moneyline (ML)

The WIZARDS (-182) and Hornets (+150) have struggled mightily this season, as things haven’t exactly gone according to plan. They’re separated by a half-game in the standings and are actually still just 4.5 or 5 games out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. These are the kind of games each side needs to win to stay in the picture, and it looks good for the home side. The Wizards are 9-11 straight up at home, while the Hornets are 8-16 SU on the road.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The WIZARDS (-4.5, -106) have connected in four of their past five games at home, but more importantly, they’re 7-2 ATS in the past nine meetings against the Hornets (+4.5, -115) in D.C.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 225.5 (-129) is the best bet, as the Hornets are allowing 110.2 points per game (PPG) this season, and their defensive field-goal percentage (47.9) ranks 28th in the NBA. The Wizards rank fifth in the NBA in scoring offense (115.6 PPG) while ranking 11th in field-goal percentage (46.3) and eighth in 3-point percentage (36.6). They’re also a dismal 30th in the NBA in points allowed (121.3 PPG) and field-goal percentage (49.2).

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Washington Wizards (4-8) host the Charlotte Hornets (6-9) Friday at Capital One Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Hornets-Wizards odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.


Hornets at Wizards: Key injuries

Wizards

  • Ian Mahinmi (Achilles) out

Hornets at Wizards: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 1 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Wizards 123, Hornets 114

Moneyline (ML)

The WIZARDS (-278) are a safe choice Friday with both teams largely unaffected by injury and able to use their full lineups. Washington is coming off a 138-132 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday and is 2-3 at home. Charlotte is 3-5 on the road and is coming off consecutive losses to the Toronto Raptors (132-96) and Brooklyn Nets (101-91), both of which were on the road.

Both teams enter off a rest day, further allowing them to use their best players as much as possible. The Hornets’ average point differential of minus-7.9 ranks second-worst in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards are minus-1.4, but they score nearly 15 more points than the Hornets on average.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Wizards to win outright returns a profit of $3.60.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Save yourself some money on the required investment and back the WIZARDS (-5.5, -129) with the points. They’ll need to win by six or more for the same $10 bet to fetch a reward of $7.75.

Washington is 8-3 ATS overall and 3-2 on home court. The Hornets are 8-7 overall and 5-3 on the road. The Wizards rank fifth in the NBA with a pace of 105.08 possessions per game while the Hornets are just 23rd at 100.17 average possessions. Washington will be able to pull away late to cover comfortably.

Over/Under (O/U)

The total of 232.5 is the highest on Friday’s slate, but we’re still taking the OVER (-129). The Wizards are the only team in the Association allowing more than 120 points per game (121.1) and only the Milwaukee Bucks are scoring more than Washington’s 119.7 PPG. The Wiz are 7-4-1 against the O/U and top the projections by an average of 12.5 points per game.

Charlotte is 7-8 against the O/U while falling an average of 1.7 points shy of the number, but the Hornets are far from a defensive juggernaut (112.8 PPG allowed) and will need to play up to Washington’s pace.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Esten’s NBA betting record: 34-38

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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